There are a variety of different mouth sores. Two of the most common are canker sores, which are not contagious and are more often inside the mouth, and fever blisters, which are caused by the herpes virus. These are very contagious and are more often on the lips and around the mouth. Mouth herpes are also called cold sores or fever blisters. Although most people have been exposed to the virus that causes the condition, only a small percentage of people suffer from recurrent outbreaks.
Laser
Laser treatments for mouth herpes can help to reduce the pain and the length of time of the outbreak. Dentist Steven Pohlhaus uses laser treatments for herpes mouth sores for his patients. The treatment is used for both soft tissue and tooth decay, eliminating the need for sutures and drills and speeding healing time. According to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library these low-powered lasers will relieve pain immediately and can prevent them from returning. Silver nitrate has also been used to chemically burn the area, but it is not as effective as the laser.
Antiviral
Dr. Pohlhaus also uses antiviral ointments, such as Denavir, to help speed healing of the cold sores. When a patient has recurrent and severe cases of cold sores, the dentist or physician may prescribe oral antiviral medications, such as Valtrex or Zovirax. Low doses of Zovirax have been shown to prevent further outbreaks, but patients must avoid being exposed to the sun. Physicians at Mayo Clinic also prescribe Famvir to help prevent recurrence of cold sores. These medications are used when patients have frequent bouts of sores, experience significant illnesses that trigger outbreaks or have identifiable triggers, such as intense sunlight.
L-Lysine
L-Lysine is an amino acid that prevents or lessens the duration of cold sores. The U.S. National Library of Medicine recommends patients try L-Lysine, an over the counter supplement. L-Lysine inhibits the virus’ ability to replicate and therefore shortens the life cycle of the cold sore. During an outbreak, the L-Lysine can be taken orally or applied topically directly to the sore. Medical professionals should be consulted if the patient is pregnant or nursing, and note that amino acid supplements should not be taken for long periods of time. Arginine is another amino acid that suppresses the work of lysine and should be avoided when taking L-Lysine supplementation. Foods that contain arginine are nuts, dairy products, seeds, meat, oats, peanuts and corn.
Pain Relief
Sufferers can avoid pain by eliminating acidic or salty foods from the diet while the sore is active. Merck Manuals Online Medical Library also lists some anesthetic ointments that can help to alleviate the pain but do not shorten the duration of the outbreak. Xylocaine, lidocaine, Carafate, and aphthasol paste are options that may provide relief.
Prevent Triggers
Individuals who suffer from cold sores often have triggers that cause an outbreak. By avoiding those triggers they can reduce the chance that an outbreak will get worse. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, these triggers include stress, sleep deprivation, and long periods in the sun without sunblock. Colds or the flu can also trigger an outbreak.
